On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Bobby Wagner, 28, won the Mayoral Race for Destin, FL. This makes him the youngest mayor to currently serve in Florida.

“I want to say thank you to everybody who made this campaign successful,” said Wagner. “To my family, friends, and community who have supported me and this vision for the future of Destin.”. 

Wagner is an independent candidate with a background in business, environmental non-profit, and 1 year on City Council. 

• “This win represents the next generation of local government that prioritizes projects over politics,” Wagner said. 

His mayoral campaign was a donation-funded grassroots campaign that took a hands-on approach, utilizing community workshops in order to understand the needs of the citizens of Destin. 

“My number one priority is this community’s concerns, goals, and aspirations as we move Destin into the future,” he said. “We will never be political, but always about the projects. Getting them started, funded, and completed for us, the community of Destin.”

Wagner ran on the platform “Revive, Reclaim, Sustain”. His campaign focused on strategic green development and revitalization, the reclamation of beaches and natural spaces, and the sustaining of Destin’s natural environment. 

• “It’s time to revive Destin,” he added. “These waterways are our heritage, and it is up to us to protect them. Together we will protect and preserve not only the waterways but our heritage, businesses, and this unique place of paradise that we get to call home.”

Moving forward, Wagner will continue to establish a strong vision for Destin that holds values of community, family, and local identity at its core. Wagner hopes to unite the council and proceed with projects that will serve the ~13,000 residents of Destin as well as the ~4 million visitors it receives each year. 

“With over 4 million people coming to visit Destin each year, we have a huge responsibility and opportunity to create change for Destin and beyond,” Wagner said.